Dia das Bruxas in Lisbon

Halloween is an Anglo-Saxon custom of pagan origin with its roots in the ancient festival of Samhain, during which the Celts celebrated the end of harvest and the beginning of winter. In the British Isles, this celebration came to coincide with the Christian feast of All Hallows at the beginning of November, and was soon known as All Hallows’ Eve or Halloween. Over the years, it has been adapted to suit different cultures and is celebrated in many different ways.

In Portugal, children in costumes can be heard asking Doçura ou diabrura? as they knock on doors in the hope of receiving candy or chocolate, just as the trick-or-treaters in the United States or Britain do. However, the traditional celebration held the following day – All Saints’ Day – involves paying our respects to deceased family members by laying flowers on their graves and baking sweet cinnamon cakes.

Modern Lisbon is a fantastic blend of cultures and traditions, and October 31st in the city is always brimming with fun things to do.
In this post, we have prepared a selection of this year’s Halloween-themed activities that are most likely to make you work up a sweat!

Trek through Monsanto Park

@susanadominguez

Info: Parque Florestal Monsanto at 7.50 pm.
Insider tip: Enjoy the views on this spooky 11km walking tour, but make sure you don’t get left behind…